Eye Care & Health Information

Eye Care & Eye Health for All Stages of Life

Eye Diseases & Condition Explained

Most people will require help with their eyesight at some stage in their lives, especially as they get older. Advanced eye care is necessary for good eye health because of the numerous eye conditions and problems that can occur as people age. Blurred vision, especially, can take several different forms, including:

Nearsighted: Known as myopia, which means you can see clearly close up but may find that distance objects are blurred. In this case, there will be a minus sign (-) in the ‘sphere’ part of the prescription. You will most likely need glasses for many everyday activities, including driving, watching TV or sports.

Farsighted: Known as hyperopia, this means that close up objects (and sometimes distance objects) could be out of focus. In this case, there will be a plus sign (+) in the ‘sphere’ part of your prescription. You may need glasses for reading, VDU work, driving and watching TV.

Astigmatism: This occurs when the curvature of your eye is not perfectly round. In this case, there will be numbers in the ‘cylinder’ and ‘axis’ parts of your prescription. The vision could be blurred at all distances and you might need to wear glasses all the time, in addition to professional eye care.

Presbyopia: This eye condition occurs when the lens inside your eye loses some of its flexibility and it becomes difficult to focus on close-up objects. Presbyopia is a result of the eye’s aging process and it affects everyone from their mid-40s and beyond.. In this case, there will be a figure in the ‘near’ or ‘intermediate’ part of your prescription and you will probably need glasses for reading.

The Importance of Eye Care

The quality of eye health and sight has a huge impact on the quality of life. Ignoring eye care can lead to blurry vision, headaches, and even wrinkles over time. That’s why you’ll benefit both in the short term and in the years to come by entrusting your advanced eye care to our expert team.

"Everyone's vision changes over time and you may experience one or more of these conditions. As well as testing your sight to see if any correction is needed, an eye exam checks the overall health and condition of your eyes and can reveal visual and other health problems before they become serious."

Common Eye Health Concerns

One of the five senses, sight is just as important as hearing or smell. Keeping your eyes healthy and a regular visit to your eye doctor can monitor any early warning signs of common eye health issues. If you notice a change in your vision or eye health, see your optometrist as soon as possible. Some common eye health concerns are:

Glaucoma- diseases leading to damage of the optic nerve causing vision loss and blindness.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)- an infection of the eye caused by bacteria or a virus

Cataracts- clouding of the eye lens.

Astigmatism- an imperfection in the curvature of the eye causing distorted images.

Presbyopia- the loss of the eye’s ability to focus. This happens gradually and is age related.

Blepharitis- inflammation of the eyelid, usually occurs when oil glands on the inner eyelid become clogged.

Eye Floaters- small flecks of collagen clump and cast shadows onto the retina. Usually age related.

Retinal Detachment- when the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue. See your doctor immediately in this emergency situation.

Keratoconus- condition occurring when the cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape.

Regular Eye Care & Eye Health Maintenance

With your vision on the line, there is no excuse for neglecting regular exams. That is why yearly eye examinations are such an important part of your eye care. Our skilled and compassionate eye care professionals will treat you with the care they would expect.

If you have any questions about your eyesight, optical prescription or advanced eye care, please do not hesitate to ask us. Speak with an advanced eye care expert by calling the Overland Park Eye Center at (913) 345-2020.